38 - Liars and Libraries
General Summary
Urie was spent the great majority of his days in The Atheneum of Solis. After gaining access to the magic-tomed fifth and sixth floors, he delved into a great number of arcane readings, detailing the many schools of magic, as well as the history of magic within the continent. Urie learned about the history of the Eternals, god-like beings that once lived upon the continent and have since departed, blessing representatives in their absence.
His studies were eventually interrupted by the scent of smoke. Traveling down the stairwell, he encountered a woman dressed in black curiously ascending the stairs calmly. He greeted her - she claimed to wish to preserve a number of tomes from the fire. Under the guise of looking for others and keeping her safe, Urie accompanied her, arm in arm. Returning to the 5th floor, the woman revealed a hidden doorway, opening to a room full of hidden tomes. Both Urie and the woman gathered a handful of tomes before continuing upwards, towards the 7th floor, of which Urie had no access.
The woman opened the door with her runic key. She moved towards the window pane and easily bypassed an illusion, stepping through into a hidden passageway. Urie followed her into a wide room, walls slick with water and thoroughly scorched. In the center of the room lay a three-headed canine beast, with a mane that radiated soft embers. The woman, introducing herself as Emyralis, easily sunders her way into the cage with burning, radiant magic. She offered two of the heads a morsel of magic fire, and gestured Urie to do the same. Emyralis used magic once more to shift the stone walls, creating an exit into the skies ahead. They were greeted by a flying Kymos and his dragon, the latter of which thoroughly disposed of a number of orcs. Kymos looked to Urie curiously before exchanging a few words with "Pyrrne", the woman next to him, and flew off towards the palace. Emyralis said her farewells to Urie, granting him a protective layer of skin before disappearing in a flash of light, taking the three-headed beast with her.
====
The rest of the party returned to the palace, finding Governess Harendial with a few menders at the end of the grand hall. One of the menders offered 'healing hugs' to most of the party, as Celder and Kayin briefed the governess on Kymos' eventual deception. Celder asked the general at the doors if he could offer his Ring of Protection, but the general declined stating it was a symbol of his stature and authority.
And so, the party waited. Within ten minutes, the doors swung open, and Kymos entered the grand hall alone. He claimed that he wished to ensure the governess's safety, but the party vehemently opposed it. An argument began about the details upon the attacks of Wozlathe. Edalweiss casts a Zone of Truth upon him - Kymos dodged answering most of the questions directly, before inviting Edalweiss and Celder to the zone as well. The conversation revealed Kymos' true nature, one unwilling to impart his knowledge about the attacks upon Solis. Realizing that his efforts to gain favor of the governess were fruitless, Kymos took his leave, threatening to destroy the grand hall with his dragon should they pursue him. And without another word, he was gone, and the night was silent.
The city spent the evening in recovery. A few hundred bodies lay deceased, between orcs and Solosi soldiers alike. Governess Harendial retired to an underground room, heavily guarded by soldiers and Kayin's trappings. The party split their gatherings from Valjorn, Farrum and Obello and spent the evening learning of their properties, while Urie (arriving after the discussion with Kymos) perused the books he had attained.
On the following morning, the party stood before Governess Harendial, a great number of soldiers, and an audience of many from the kingdom. They received the reward from the tournament, a sum total of one thousand platinum, as well as a request for each participant.
• Kayin requested he keep a sword he borrowed from Kagrum the blacksmith, which was granted.
• Finn requested a modified spear with more offensive capabilities, which the governess tasked one of her employs to work on.
• Edalweiss requested assistance in retrieving her children in the elven city of Omsonora. The governess explained she had no sway in that region, but she could offer an ambassador's emblem for safe travel through Deauremont Bay, as well as access to a private transportation should Edalweiss have someone capable of utilizing it.
• Celder requested monetary assistance towards the guild, as well as access to the Atheneum's resources and weapons and armor for the guild's current conscripts.
• Urie, offered a participatory reward, requests the governess's hand in marriage. After being refused, he requests friendship instead. Harendial invites him to tea later in the day.
Following the ceremony, the party goes to the Atheneum, and Urie shares what he witnessed from his time with Emyralis. The party finds the now vacated room on the seventh floor. Edalweiss informs the party that Farrum escaped from her bag and disappeared into the night.
Rewards Granted
Urie:
- Atheneum Rune Stone, Tier III
- Three books of unusual origin, two pamphlets
- A dark cloak, found inside a bag within the three-headed beast's chamber
- Gallheim's Maul (Identified, previously owned by Valjorn)
- Belt of Stone Giant Strength (Identified, previously owned by Valjorn)
- Wand of the War Mage, +1 (Identified, previously owned by Farrum)
- Farrum's Spellbook
- Robe of Useful Items (Identified, previously owned by Obello)
- Potion of Garos (Identified, previously owned by Valjorn)
- Figurine of Wondrous Power, Bronze Griffon (Identified, previously owned by Valjorn)
- Necklace of Captivity (Identified, previously owned by Valjorn)
- Maul of Passage (Identified, previously owned by Valjorn)
- Feather Necklace (Identified, previously owned by Valjorn)
Character(s) interacted with
- Pyrrne
- Three-Headed Beast
- Kymos
- Colorless Dragon
- General Ulysses (Deceased)
- Solosi Mender
- Governess Harendial
Comments